HomeMy WebLinkAboutAlcohol Compliance Check Passing Establishments Generic Letter ~ POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
}� 14168 OAK PARK BLVD. NORTH • P.O. BOX 2007 LINDY SWANSON
OAK PARK HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55082 CHIEF OF POLICE
TELEPHONE: (651) 439 -4723
® FAX: (651) 439 -3639
EMERGENCY: 911
TO: Oak Park Heights
Liquor License Holders
FROM: Lindy Swanson, Chief of Police
DATE: August 22, 2000
REF: Alcohol Compliance Checks
First, I would like to commend and congratulate each holder of an Oak Park Heights
Liquor License. The last three Alcohol Compliance Checks conducted by personnel from
our police department had a 100% pass rating. The last three compliance checks were
performed in the end of December 1999 thru April 2000. I am extremely pleased with the
obviously increased level of responsibility as it pertains to avoiding selling alcohol to
persons under twenty -one years of age. 100% compliance is fantastic!
Second, I would like to advise each license holder that we have once again been awarded
grant monies to conduct further compliance checks. We applied for and received a grant
from the Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety /Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement Division.
We will be conducting checks, commencing immediately. Some of the checks will
again be focusing on our license holders. Other checks will be done focusing on persons
of legal age, purchasing alcohol products and turning it over to persons not of legal age.
With three consecutive compliance checks resulting in 100% pass ratings, you, the
license holders have proven that it can be done. It is of utmost importance to keep
communicating the importance of checking I.D. cards when in doubt, to your employees.
It is as simple as that, when in doubt, ask for and check I.D.
You might consider a reward program for your employees. Maybe reward employees that
confirm an attempt of an underage person to buy alcohol or just for consistantly checking
I.D. when purchasers physical appearance leaves doubt as to age.
Third, and last, I would like to advise each of you that the City of Oak Park Heights did
amend it resolution dealing with civil sanctions against those that have violated by selling
alcohol products to person underage. Basically, the ammendment simply states that if
there is a 24 month period during which a license holder passes all compliance checks
and then may fail one, that failure would be regarded as a "first offense ". An example
would be, say a license holder had two compliance failures in January of 1999 and passes
several complaiance checks after that. Then, March of 2001 the license holder fails a
check. Rather than considering this a "third offense" for sanction purposes, we would
look at it as a first. This will most definitely help those license holders that have failed in
the past. Go two years without a failure, you start with a clean slate.
I would again like to simply stress the point, communicate with your employees. When
in doubt, ask for and check I.D. It is as simple as that.
Questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to either stop in and see me or
give me a call.